GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) - For awhile Wednesday, there was a party on Eighth Street. It contrasted the near ghost town atmosphere many Gillette neighborhoods have adopted while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At 1 and 3 p.m., dozens of motorists drove down the street, turned onto Veterans Drive then honked their horns or revved their engines as they approached the Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center.
About half the residents at the facility were allowed to attend each parade to limit the number of people gathered to watch. Some held signs saying “Thank you,” and others in wheelchairs waved and smiled as they got some much needed social interaction with their friends, neighbors and loved ones.
Now weeks into a coronavirus lockdown and moratorium on any visitors, residents at the Legacy and their families have made significant sacrifices as they continue to try their best to handle their new circumstances, the Gillette News Record reports.
Even from a distance, just seeing people and their signs and messages of hope were uplifting, Legacy residents said.
“This is great,” said Yvonne Buckey as the parade of cars slowly drove by on a sunny afternoon.
Her sister drove by in a pickup and waived an American flag to Buckey, who said her sister “stuck to her promise.”
With much of Gillette and the nation shut down or restricted, simple things Legacy residents had looked forward to haven’t been able to happen. That includes seeing visitors and having lunches or outings with friends or family.
“It’s been a strain,” Buckey said. “I used to see my sister almost every day. It’s been tough on all of us, but we’ll get by. We’ll get through this.”
To get the residents out of their rooms and into the fresh air for a few moments, the Legacy and Campbell County Health arranged for the drive-by parades so they could see their loved ones and others who wanted to show they haven’t been forgotten.
“This day was wonderful,” Buckey said. “I think it’s wonderful that they’ve taken their time and got everybody together, and took the time to do it for us and our families. I just thank them a lot.”
Rhea Parsons came with her family to say hello to her grandmother, a Legacy resident, who had been used to seeing visitors on a regular basis before COVID-19.
Parsons called her grandmother Wednesday morning and told her to watch for their three-car convoy in the parade.
“She told me, ‘I feel so loved,’” Parsons said.
For the community to show up is great for everybody, Parsons said.
Becky Thompson said the parade was “fabulous.”
“The weather is gorgeous (and) it gives people a chance to be out and participate in an activity that will help bring smiles to the residents and smiles to us,” she said. “It just feels good.”
A day outing
For some, Wednesday afternoon was a brief but welcome escape from the coronavirus and how it’s dominated nearly every aspect of daily life.
Tom Wolff showed off his 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air for the first time in a while to say hi to some of his friends at the Legacy.
“Plus, it’s an excuse to get out of isolation. That way you got a reason to go somewhere other than the grocery store,” he said. “They do this once a year in the summer, but yeah, it’s a good thing.
“Any time you can interact with people, especially people who are having problems other than being elderly, they are sick or rehabbing from something, it is a good thing.”
Tommy James and his family brought their 1956 Ford Fairlane.
“It gives us something to do,” he said, adding that the Legacy residents “need our help.”
“I’m hoping someday when I get old I get help and have people that care about me,” James said.
Thunder Basin High School sophomore Eric Thompson showed some love to his great-grandmother on his Yamaha 250 motocross bike.
“I’m happy I get to go out and use my bike and stuff, which is nice,” he said.
Before the parade, Thompson said he attached a few balloons to the bike “to make it kind of partyish.”
His mother, Becky Thompson, said her husband’s grandfather has some trouble with his vision and she wasn’t sure he would see a sign if they had one, so she decorated her car with hearts to get his attention.
“We’re just thinking about the families who are separated from their loves ones,” she said. “It just seemed appropriate.”
‘We love you, stay strong’
Parade participant Michele Hurchanik said she was pleased to see a large turnout, adding “that’s what our town does.”
“It’s very important to let them know we’re thinking of them,” said Ann Rossi, Campbell County Senior Center executive director. “It was definitely important for all of us.
“Many of the seniors in Legacy we know, and so it was very important for us to let them know that we’re thinking of them. We’re all in it together, so we’re all getting through this together. It was definitely important for us to have a presence.”
The Campbell County Senior Center brought a few of employees on a bus that was decorated with a sign that read, “We love you, stay strong.”
“We’re all in this together and we have to remember that,” said Janelle Avery, a Senior Center driver. “If we could put a smile on one senior it’s worth it.”
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